The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 77

I. REQUEST FOB PRAYER ON BEHALF OF THE PBEACHERB. 1. For the d,:ffusion and glonfication of the Word of tl,e Lo1·d through their instnJmentality. Diffusion. "Pray for U8, that the Vi7ord of the Lord may run." The Word of tlrn Lord is the Word 81 gh·en by the Lord to be diffused. It is especially the offer of salvation to periehln" men on the ground of Christ's work. The Thessalonians are asked to pray that th; Word of the Lord, by their preaching, may run, i.e. have free and rapid oourse. In the same way we are to pray that the Word of the Lord may be everywhere preached. This is a motto for a Bible Society: " Pray that the Word of the Lord may run." By both means may it_accornplish its coui'l!e. Let no country be shut to the preaching of the gospel, to the c1rculat10n of the Scnptures. Let the eMth be filled with knowledae. Gwrific,dion. "And be glorified." For this, too, prayer needs to be made. May the Diviue :--pirit accompany the Word in its course throus!h the world. And, wherever it comes, let it be glorified. Let it be shown to be the Word of the Lord, by its powerful saving effects upon the hearts of all who hear it or read it. Commendatory statement with reference t<J the Thessalonians. "As also it is with you." In its course throu"h the world in those days, the Word came to Thessalonica. And they presented ~o obstacle in their hearts to its reception. They received it, not as the word of men, bnt as it is in truth the Word of God. And it was signally glorified in iteo being the means of their being turned from i<lols to the living and true God. Let the Word of the Lord also be glorified in our conversion, in the transformation of our characters. Let.us be willing trophies of the power of the Word to change us to the Divine form. 2. For the prellence of a c011dition without which they could not be instrumental in diffusing and ylorifying the Word of the Lord. ".And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and e\·il men." In most places the preachers had to encounter unreasonable and evil men. If these had their way, the Word of the Lord would be impeded, by there not being freedom for preaching it. The Thessalonians, then, are asked to pray, on behalf of the preachers, for their deliverance from these unreasonable and evil men. They are not forbidden to pray for their personal salvation, but they are enjoined to pray against them as imped ere of the Word. Let Di vine restraint be laid upon their un- reasonableness and malice, but let Divine speed be granted to the Word. Reason for exp«ting the existenctl ef unrensonable and evil men. " For all have not faith." The meaning is not that all have not aptitude for faith. It is one of the devil's lies that religion is only a matter for some people. The meaning is, that all are not, in the way of faith, receptive of the Word. We need not, therefore, wonder if, in the case of some, their want of sympathy with the Word shows itself in forms of unreasonableness and me.lice. They are only working out their position more vigorously tha:n some others, even as Paul did in his pre-Christian state. II. THEY RAD OONFIDENCE TH.AT THE LORD WOULD ASSIST THE 'l'HESBALONIANS. " But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and guard you from the evil one." They at once tum away from their own case to the case of the 'l'hessalonians. There were unreasonable and evil men at Thessalonica too. But the Lord was to be trusted in a.s Prot.ector of his Church in every place, and stronger than the unreasonable and evil men. And their Lord Protector, the preachers were persuaded, would make them immovable against the assaults of their enemies, and would deliver them from the evil one, the inspirer of their unreasonableness and malice. Ill. THEIR 00NFIDENOE D1' THE LORD EXTENDED TO THE CO-OPERATION 011' THE TBEB- SALOllliltS WITH THE LORD ASSISTING THEM. "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, tha.t ye both do and will do the things which we command." In the language, "And we have confidence in the Lord," there is a carrying forward of the thought. Their confidence in the Lord extended to the TheHealoniane doing their part. They had no doubt that in the present they were doing what they were com- manded. They had no doubt also in their resolution for the future. This expression of confidence has the force of hopeful exhortation. IV. PRATilll THAT THE LoKD WOULD ASSIST THE THEBBALONIAll'B. ".And the Lord direct your heart.a." Though the Lord promises to assist us, and t.o assist us ln con- net--tion with our good resolution, yet we need to pray for hie assistance. The prayer is for the directing-not mere directing, but the powerful directing-of our hearts. Of ourselves our hea.rlB are misdirected. But, in virt11e of his triumph on Calvary, the Lord hu power onr our hearlB to direct them aright. There i, a twofold directw,a oe. m. 1-18.) 'l'HE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THEBSALONIANS. 77